What Is The Modern Success Rate Of Rotator Cuff Surgery?

What Is The Modern Success Rate Of Rotator Cuff Surgery?

Since my first day in surgery in 1983 with Dr. Stephen Snyder, I have seen a lot of improvements in cuff repair surgical devices, suture anchors, sutures, and techniques. Now we are augmenting cuff repairs biologically to maximize surgical outcomes in difficult reconstructive situations. But did you know that since about 2009 we have had a 90% success rate in cuff healing?

This is a MUCH higher success rate than the ones still often quoted by many, many non-shoulder surgeons.

HOW?

By using stronger sutures.....by using 3 sutures per anchor in a single row repair....by being mindful of the tear pattern....by being mindful of the tension on the repair....and finally, by adding a "poor-man's" biological augment done by simply making holes in the greater tuberosity to open up the bone marrow space. With an average tear size of 3cm...we can get 91% healed at 2 years by MRI. Published (in 3 separate ways by multiple authors) and peer-reviewed. No question about it.

For a 2cm to 4cm full-thickness cuff tear that needs to be anchored back to the bone....arthroscopic surgery works extremely well when done well and rehabbed well.